I got a loud ticking sound coming from the cyl head ( I think its from the head )
I originally thought it was a rod bearing but when I put the timing light on
I noticed the tic was in time with strobe (therefore something in the head)

I did a valve adjustment (.-006 intake, .006 ex). Still the tick with hot engine. The tic isn't there when the engine is cold. Gets worse as the motor heats up.

Did a compression test. 215-210-215-225. 210 is a little down.

Checked with a stethascope on the cyl head around the valve area. Nothing really stands out.

Any ideas ??

 

I thought my rod bearing was coming from the head too.

If it's really loud, it's the bearings.

 

Are you sure it isn't just loud injectors?

 

Thats what I thought originally, but when I slowed the idle right down as far as it would go without stalling the engine, I noticed the timing light strobe and the loud tic were in sync. The noise isn't there/or barely there when the engine is cold (oil not thinned out yet??).

I'll check the injectors with the stethoscope to see if one is really banging away.

It sounds as if the valve lash is fine when cold, but gets excessive when hot.
I'm not saying thats whats happening....I'm trying to describe the characteristics of the sound.

 

Is ur timing belt tight? My loose t-belt got me to do a valve adj. for nothing.

 

when you say its the bearings, you mean a spun bearing or what?

 

Your loose t-belt made a ticking sound like it was a valve ???
Actually, the origin seems to be more from the timing belt side of the motor.. top of cylinders #1, maybe #2.


[Modified by Mover, 10:39 PM 8/14/2002]

 

Some motors will make more valvetrain noise when hotter, doesnt mean that there is a problem, its just a characteristic of the motor..

2001 Civics are big on this fact, when the ecu is controlling the idle (cold start) it is smooth and quiet, after 10 minutes is starts ticking and sounds like a sewing machine.. They all do it and is kinda cool to experience if you happen to have access to one..

Doesn't mean there is a problem... its just how the motor works...

 

Mine does that but when cold.
I tought it was the injectors but it really seems to come from inside the head.

I must do the adjustement for the valve in the weekend.

Maybe it's the valve guide.They are probably worn out.

Maybe.

 

I don't have any blue smoke when I initially start it in the morning. Does anyone know if a worn valve guide has a particular sound associated with it ?

 

Get a screw driver or short peice of hose, put the flat end, or one end of the hose. On verious locations on the head, injectors, block, etc... Put the handle or other end of the hose, against you ear and listen. That should help in tracking down the noise.

Also, might check the plug wires, move them around and see if you still get the clicking. It may be a spark, grounding somewhere on valve cover, for one reason are another.


[Modified by 88_SC_CRX_Si, 7:33 AM 8/15/2002]

 

The seal on the top of the valve is there to control that the oil won't go into the combustion chamber.

The valve guide is there to guide the valve.If the guide as some play,the valve will have some travel on the side.
This may cause some noise.

 

Francois, have you come across a worn guide before ? Is there a particular sound it makes at idle ? Thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks for ALL the suggestions guys



[Modified by Mover, 2:37 PM 8/15/2002]

 

Not personnaly,unless the noise I heard(In my car) is not coming from the valve that need adjustement.
I will know for shure after I did my adjustement.

This was a mechanic that told me that.
I read it somewhere that could be the reason.
At least,for a 1 gen B16 like mine,it may since nobody could tell the mileage of those motor!

And yes,there is a sound that could be heard.

 

hey guys this topic is really helpful...but it's not solving my problem. i think i may have the same problem as you but i have that noise all the time. it sounds like a 'dead' knocking noise in a sense. kinda like when someone's knocking on wood. i'm sick of this noise and want to get rid of it as well. i adjusted my valves like 2 times already: 1st time i=.005, e=8 2nd time i=3, e=6. after the second time i did so, the problem got worse. i'm guessing it's something with the head but i'm not sure, and i also suspect the rod and rod bearings.

 

I would have your engine pulled and looked at before you
destroy your crank. That is what my engine sounded like
before the bottom end gave up

 

i think its just noisy injectors,

 

I would check your oil pump first,then if the oil pressure is ok,then its possible that you might have a bad lost motion assembly somewhere.

 

Does a bad LMA have a unique sound ? or does it sound like a valve needing adjustment.

 

Found out what the problem was. After taking my car to this $#@%ing garage a couple of months ago, I had the OEM cams reinstalled into the motor. The aftermarket ones were junk (don't ask, long story).

Anyways, it turns out this f&%$er of a mechanic didn't torque down the cam cap bolts properly. One of them had next to no tension at all ! I loosened and retorqued all the bolts. No more noise.


[Modified by Mover, 9:51 PM 9/14/2002]

 

wow, good thing you could have frozen a cam. did you inspect the bearing surfaces before you re torqued them> what spec did you use. 20ft/lbs is what I have been told is proper, the manuals I have seen as high as 28. I used that spec and froze an intake cam a while back on my old motor... just encouraging you to make sure you dont end up where I was at the end of that fiasco...

cheers

 

My manual says 19 ft/lbs. I did 2 passes. First one at 15 ft/lbs and the second one at 19ft/lbs. The end caps were something like 9 - 10 ft/lbs.

For all TO rides, STAY AWAY FROM GILMAN AUTO

 

what does it usually mean if i have a ticking coming from the head, but it happens only sometimes...i mean, everytime i drive the car it happens...but it isnt constant, only clicks usually at idle for a while or something like that.....i think i just need a valve adjustment, but maybe some of you have had the same problem....PLEASE HELP!!!

 

if its in with the timing light strobe then it may be the rod bearing in the cylinder you were checking with the light. start pulling plug wires and see if you can get the noise to go away. i would bet its the rod bearing in whatever cylinder you were checking with the timing light(i'm assuming 1)

 

Retorquing the cam caps correctly (posted earlier) solved the problem. No more noise


[Modified by Mover, 9:19 AM 9/16/2002]